Control



d- 9 v. w.' KLIESRATH 2,018,023

CONTROL Filed May 15, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIII-FIIIM IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Vicfor W. Kliesrafb Oct. 22, 1935. v. w. KLIESRATH 2,013,023

' CONTROL Filed May 15, 193:5 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

BY u):

A TTORNEK Wc forW. K/ieqrafh Oct. 22,1935. Q v. w. KVLIESRATH 3 CONTROL Filed May 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Vzcfor W. K liajrafb A TTORNEX Patented Oc 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,018,023 CONTROL Application May 15, 1933, Serial No. 671,049

14 Claims. (01.180-77) This invention relates to controls, and is illustrated as embodied in a novel arrangement and mounting of the controls ofan automobile.

An important object of the invention is to arrange a system of automobile controls which will clear, up the floorboard of the automobile, by mounting the controls, or at least the important controls, on the dash or its equivalent. 1 also consider it important to do this in a manner which strengthens the dash and makes it more rigid, and preferably in a manner facilitating assembling the various controls in place, or removing them from the assembly for repair or replacement.

In one very desirable arrangement, the controls include a steering column having a supporting bracket engaging one face of the dash, and another bracket carrying hydraulic and other operating devices for the controls is arranged in engagement with the opposite face of the dash,

registering with the first bracket. The two brackets arebolted or otherwise secured together, and tothe dash, giving a readily assembled support for the various controls which support also serves to strengthen and rigidity the dash.

Other features of novelty relate to the use of a novel hydraulic means, for example a novel plural-cylinder master cylinder for operating the brakes and the clutch (and if desired also the gear-shift means), which is preferably carried by the above-described bracket. This hydraulic means is shown actuated in a novel manner by downwardly-extending pedals or the like pivoted at their upper ends on one of the supporting brackets.

I prefer to provide a simplified arrangement of vacuum or other auxiliary power means for actuating one or both of these pedals or their equivalents, and in the preferred arrangements I 49 mount this power means on one of the abovebe apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings,'in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sec- 55 tion through the front part 91 an automobile embodying my invention, and showing most of the controls in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a partial section on the line 22 of Figure 1 and showing the hydraulic brake and clutch operating means; '5

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an arrangement in which the gear shifting means is also operated hydraulically Figure 4 is a section through the combination master cylinder of Figure 3 on the line 4-4 of 10 that figure;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view of an alternative arrangev ment in which a vacuum power device for the 15 clutch is arranged! adjacent the clutch;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation showing the steering wheel and instrument board of thevehicle;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the assembly shown in Figure '7; 20

Figure 9 is a partial section through the upper end of the steering column on the line 99 of F ur 2 Figure 10 is a top plan view of a modified arrangement of one of the spokes of the steering 25 wheel;

Figure 11 is a partial section on the line "-4 I of Figure 10 and showing the means of closing one of the electric circuits, as for example the horn circuit; 30

' Figure 12 is a section through the,circuit closer on the line l2-l2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a partial vertical longitudinal section, corresponding to part of Figure 1, but showing a modified arrangement; 35

Figure 14 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a section corresponding to Figure 13, but showing another modification;

Figure 16 is a rear elevation of the parts shown in Figure 15; and

Figure 1'7 is a section corresponding to Figures 13 and 15, but showing still another modification.

The automobile selected for illustration is of the general type more fully described in my co-pending application No. 651,821 filed January 14, 1933, and includes front road wheels In which may be provided with hydraulic brakes l3, and which'are driven through a suitable differential (not shown) which is operated by a transmission or change- 5 speed gear l2 of any desired character, the gears of which are shifted by suitable means such as levers It. The transmission, which may be of the progressive type illustrated in the above-men-'- tioned application, or which may-if desired be of the conventional three-speed-and-reverse sliding gearty'pe, is operated through a suitable clutch arranged in a clutch housing 15 andoperated by a clutch lever I6.

The engine I8 is preferably mounted as described in the above-referred to application No.

651,821, filed January 14, 1933, just forwardly of a transversely-extending flash which carries an instrument board 22 arranged just in front of the drivers seat 24. As is also more fully described in the said application, the automobile has abase 26 which carries the dash 20 and which also carries an inclined foot board 28. i

As explained above, the present application relates to the controls of the automobile, and more particularly to their assembly upon the dash 20 or its equivalent. These controls are shown as including a steering column 30 carrying a steering wheel 32 and which is mounted in a novel supporting bracket 34, the front face of which engages the rear face of the dash 20. The front face of the dash is engaged by another supporting bracket which is shown as having formed integrally thereof a combination hydraulic master cylinder 36, more fully described below.

The supporting brackets 34 and 36 are secured to each other and to the dash 20 by means such as a series of bolts or the like 30, thereby forming a rigid unit with the dash which adds greatly to the strength of the dash, the strengthened dash forming a reinforced transverse bridge or truss in which the various stresses and strains of the entire vehicle are centered as more fully explained in my co-pending application No. 677,610, filed June 26, 1933.

The novel master cylinder 36 is shown as including a reservoir 40 for hydraulic fluid such as the usual mixture of alcohol and castor oil, the reservoir being closed by a tight-fitting cover 42 having a removable filler cap 44. Just below the' reservoir 40, and at opposite sides of the combina tion master cylinder 35, are arranged respectively a a clutch-operating cylinder 46and a brake-oper ating cylinder 48, each communicating with the reservoir 40 when in released position through a port 50 which-allows for expansion and contraction of the operating liquid to compensate for heat and cold.

In each of these cylinders there is arranged an operating piston 52 shown faced by a rubber sealing cup 54, which may be held in place by a spring 56. Each piston 52 is operated by a piston rod 58, the two piston rods 58 being pivoted to and operated respectively by novel clutch and brake pedals 60 and 62. The pedals 60 and 62 are pivoted .at their upper ends on brackets 84 carried by or integral with one of the aboye-described supporting brackets, and which are shown as being integral with the one on the front side of the dash which is extended to form the novelmaster cylinder 36 with the brackets 64 extending through suitable slots or openings in the dash 20.

The cylinder 46, containing the piston operated by the clutch pedal 60, is connected by a suitable conduit 68 with an operating cylinder I0 containing a piston having a piston rodwhich is pivotally connected to the clutch arm I6. Thus the depression of the novel downwardly-extending pedal 60 rocks the lever I6 to throwout the clutch, while the release of the pedal 60 permits the clutch spring to return the parts to the positions shown in the drawings. The cylinder 40, con-' taining the piston 52 which is operated by the brake pedal 62, is connected to the usual pipe ture and the like by providing'communication- 5 between the cylinder and the reservoir 40when the brakes are released.

I preferably provide, just below the cylinders 46 and 48, two additional cylinders 12 and I4 having compensating ports I6 for connecting 10 the cylinders with the reservoir 40, and which are connected by pipe lines 18 with operating cylinders having pistons connected by piston rods 82 to the gear shifting levers I4. As best appears in Figure 5 I prefer to provide an oper- 15 ating piston 84 in each of these cylinders 12 and 14 which compresses the liquid ahead of it to apply a thrust to the corresponding lever I4 when the piston is pushed forwardly, and which has attached thereto a flexible cable orother 20 tension element86 which at its forward end is connected to the corresponding piston which is connected through its piston rod 82 to one of the levers I4. Thus, retraction of the piston 84 serves to pull the corresponding lever I4 rearwardly, while pushing the piston 84 forward respectively on the ends of two coaxial shafts 92 30 and 94. At-their opposite ends the shafts 92 and 94 are provided with arms 96 having slots facing toward each other and one or the other of which is adapted to receive, when in its central or neutral position, and to embrace operatively 35 an auxiliary gear shift lever 98 operatively connected by a sliding and rocking lever I00 to a I universally-mounted hand gear shift lever I02 which may have an H guide slot I04 formed in the instrument board 22. Thus the shifting 40 backward and forward of the lever I02 when in its right hand position rocks one of the levers I4 back and forth, while the corresponding shifting of the lever I02 when in its left hand position rocks the other lever 14 back and forth. 45 The master cylinder and hydraulic controls are more particularly described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 9,224 filed March 4, 1935, which is a division of this application. 5 If desired one or both of the pedals 60 and 62 may be arranged to be operated by power, as for exampleby the suction of the intake manifold I05 of the engine. This is accomplished by the use of -a power cylinder I06, preferably mounted on the bracket 34 which carries the steering column, and which contains a suitable piston connected by a piston rod I00 to an extension I I0 formed on" the upper end of the corresponding pedal. The cylinder I06 is connected by a suitable conduit II2 with the intake manifold and is controlled by a suitable valve (not shown), the valve being opened by the release of the accelerator pedal in the case of the clutch operating device and by the depression of the brake pedal 62 c5 I I 8 having a piston rod I20 connected to an upper extension I22 of the clutch shifting lever I6.

One manner of arranging the control parts on the instrument board is shown in Figure 7. There is shown in that figure a panel I24 across the top of which are arranged three instruments I26 such as the ammeter and the oil gage and the gasoline gage. Immediately below this is the ignition lock I28, which may if desired be of one of the well known co-incidental types and serve also to lock the gear shift lever I02 in a neutral position. Preferably the light switch I30 is arranged to surroundthe, ignition switch I28.

Control members such yas the vacuum cut-out button H4 and the spark-controlling button I32 are arranged atopposite sides of the gear shift-- ing lever I02 at the bottom of the panel I24, and I prefer to arrange on opposite sides of the lower portion of the panel an emergency brake operating lever I34 and a choke-operating handle or the like I36. As shown inFigure 8, the emergency brake handle is connected to the upper end of a cable I38 passing through a flexible Bowde'n type housing I40, the cable I38 extending in any desired manner to the emergency brake.

I prefer to mount the speedometer I42 in the center of the steering wheel 32, with its flexible operating shaft I44 extending down through the center of the steering column 30. If desired the speedometer I42 may be supported by a soft depressing a contact I54 carried by a resilient extension I56 which may be mounted integrally with the rim of the wheel 32. A dimmer switch may be similarly provided on the opposite spoke of the steering wheel.

It will be observed that all of the controls are compactly mounted on the instrument board in a manner which leaves the floor board of the car entirely clear and in-a manner which at the same time strengthens and reinforces the trans-- versely-extending dash which forms a very important structural elementof the car as more fully set forth and claimed in my co-pending application N0.677,61 0 filed June 26, 1933. Suitable compartments may be provided at opposite sides of the instrument board, with removable covers I60 of any desired form.

The arrangement shown in Figures 13. and 14 differs from that described above in several respects. The steering column bracket 234 for the steering column 30 is arranged to form a housing I60. containing'intermeshing gears connecting the steering shaft in column 30 with a vertical shaft in an auxiliary vertical column I62, This vertical column continues below the floorboard, and operates the steering connections to the front wheels, preferably in the manner fully described in my copending application No. 677,611, filed June 26, 1933.

The steering column bracket 234 is shown in the form of a casting, and en ages the rear face of the dash 20 opposite a complementary casting.

hydraulic, reservoir 240 for the control cylinnected, by means such as the bolts '36, to form a reinforced and strengthened composite structure. 3

The cylinders 246 of the controls, extend through registering openings in the dash 20 and in the bracket 234, so that the piston connecting rods 58 may be directly connected to the pedals 60'and 62. The pedals are in this arrangement, 10 however, pivoted on a boss 264 on the steering column bracket 234. a I

In the arrangementof Figures 15 and 16, vacuum power cylinders 306, which may form parts of standard vacuum clutch control and vacuum 15 booster brake systems, are shown pivoted or otherwise mounted on arms integral with the steering column bracket 334. The power pistons therein are connected by means such as connecting rods 308 to extensions 3I0 on the upper ends of the pedals 60 and 62, the supporting boss 364 for the pedals having a portion spacing the pedals apart to .facilitate the connection to the power pistons, as shown in Figure 16.

In the arrangement of Figure 1'7, intended for use when power is supplied by compressed air instead of by engine manifold suction, the cylinders 406 are pivoted or otherwise mounted on an upwardly extending part of that portion of the steering column bracket 434 which engages the dash 20. The piston connecting rods 408 in this arrangement thrust against upward extensions 4I0 of the pedals. The brackets 434 and 436 are suitably modified to facilitate this cylinder mounting.

While several illustrative constructions have been described indetail, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention by that description, or otherwise than bythe terms of the ap-' pended claims.

I claim:

1. An automobile control assembly comprising,

in combination with a dash, a steering column having a supporting bracket engaging one face of the dash, another supporting bracket engaging 45 the other face of the dash opposite the first bracket, means for securing the two brackets together and to the dash, operating hydraulic devices carried by the said other bracket, pedals mounted on the first bracket and arranged to ac- 50 tuate certain of said hydraulic devices, a vacuum booster device carried by said first bracket and arranged to actuate one of said pedals, and a gear-shift lever mounted on the dash and arranged selectively to operate certain of said devices for shifting gears.

2. An automobile control assembly comprising, in combination with a dash, a steering column having a supporting bracket engaging one face of the dash, another supporting bracket engag- Ing the other-face of the dash opposite the first bracket, means for securing the two brackets together and to the dash, operating hydraulic devices carried by (the said other bracket, and means carried by the first bracket for actuating 5 said devices selectively. r

3. An-automobile control assembly comprising in combination with a dash, a steering column having a supporting bracket engaging one face of the dash, another. bracket carrying a plural- 70 ity of hydraulic operating .devices and engaging the. other face of the dash opposite the first bracket, means for securing the two brackets together and to the dash, and actuating means for selectively operating said devices and including 75 downwardly-extending pedals pivoted on said assembly and arranged at their lower ends for operative engagement by the drivers foot.

4. An .automobile control assembly comprising, in combination with a dash, a steering column having a supporting bracket enga ing, one face of the dash, another bracket carrying a plurality of'hydraulic operating devices and engaging the other face of the dash opposite the first bracket,

means for securing the two brackets together and to the dash, actuating means for selectively operating said devices and' including downwardlyextending pedals pivoted on said assembly and arranged at their lower ends for operative engagement by the drivers foot, and power means arranged also to act on one of said pedals.

5. An automobile control assembly comprising, in combination with a dash, a steering column having a supporting bracket engaging one face of the dash, another bracket carrying a plurality of hydraulic operating devices and engaging the other face of the dash opposite the first bracket, meansfor securing the two brackets together and to, the dash, actuating means for selectively operating said device and including downwardlyextending pedals pivotedon said assembly and arranged at their lower ends for operative engagement by the drivers foot, and a vacuum power device carried by thedash and connected to the upper end of one of said pedals.

6. An automobile control assembly comprising, in combination with a dash, a plurality of hydraulic devices formed as a unit mounted on said dash and-having one side of the unit engaging one face of the dash, actuating means for selectively operating said devices formed as a second unit having one side engaging the other face of 'the dash opposite the first .unit and including downwardly-extending pedals pivoted on said assembly and arranged at their lower ends for operative engagement by the drivers foot and fastening means engaging the two units and securing them to each other and to the dash as onerigid assembly.

7; An automobile control assembly comprising,

in combination with a dash, a hydraulic device formed as a'unit mounted on said dash and having one side engaging one face of the dash, a second unit engaging the other face of the dash opposite the first unit and including a downwardly-extending pedal pivoted at its upper end and connected through the dash to operate the hydraulic device and arranged at its lower end for operative engagement by the drivers foot, and

fastening means securing said units and dash together in one rigid assembly. A

8. An automobile control assembly comprising,

.in combination with-a dash. having an instrument board carried thereby and spaced rearwardly thereof, a hydraulic device formed as a unit mounted on said dash, a downwardly-extending pedal connected to operate said device and pivoted on said assembly and arranged at its lower end for operative engagement by the drivers foot, and a power device mounted in said assembly in the space between the dash and the instrument board and connected to the upper end of said pedal. v

9. An automobile control system comprising, in combination with a dash, a hydraulic devicegorming a unit mounted on the dash and having one side engaging the dash, a second unit engaging the other face of the dash opposite the first unit and including a downwardly-extending pedal connected to operate the hydraulic device and pivoted on said second unit and arranged at its lower end for operative engagement by the drivers foot, a power operatormounted on one of said units adjacent the upper end of and operatively connected to said pedal, and means forsecuring said units and said dash together in arigid composite reinforced structure.

10. An automobile control system comprising, in combination with a dash having an instrument board carried thereby andqsp ced therefrom, a hydraulic device adjacent the d sh, a downwardlyextending pedal operating the vhydraulic device and. pivoted on said dash and arranged at its lower end for operative engagement by the drivers foot and a power device arranged in the space between the dash and the instrument board and operatively connected to the upper end of said pedal. r

I 11. A hydraulic power unit comprising a reservoir member having below and in communication therewith at times cylinders each having a piston, one for a brake system, and one for a clutch, a steering column, means for jointly supporting said steering column and said unit, and driver-operated devices supported by said supporting means and arranged for selective actuaand'means whereby the power cylinder acts on said master cylinder.

13. Control means comprising, in combination with a dash, a bracket engaging the front face of the dash and having hydraulic operating means provided therein, another bracket engaging the rear face of the dash and having supported thereon an inclined driver-operated steering column and a vertical column operated by the inclined column and extending downwardly toward the bottom of the dash, driver operated means at the rear of the dash and supported by one of said brackets and arranged to operate said hydraulic means, and means for fastening the two brackets and the dash together in one rigid composite rein-- forced structure.,

14. Control means comprising, in combination with a dash, a bracket engaging the front face of the dash and having hydraulic operating means provided therein,vanother bracket engaging the rear face of the dash and having supported thereon an inclined driver-operated steering column and a vertical column operated by the inclined column and extending downwardly toward the, bottom of the dash, driver-operated means at the rear of the dash and supported by one of said brackets and arranged to operate said hydraulic means, means for fastening the two brackets and the dash together in-one rigid composite reinforced structure, and power meansmounted on the steering column bracket and connected to said driver-operated means.

vrorron .W. KLIESRA'I'H. 7 

